About Aerosols
Can I recycle my empty Aerosols?
Download the 'Can I recycle my empty Aerosols?' fact sheet here
Please note that the advice here applies to household recycling only. Visit our About Aerosols \ Recycling Empty Aerosols section to view our Industrial and Local Authority advice sections.
Can I recycle my empty aerosols?
Yes, 76% of local authorities in the UK accept empty aerosols for recycling, in either kerbside collection boxes or in can banks. In areas where your local authority uses magnetic extraction your aerosols will automatically be recycled.
Should I separate my empty aerosols from other recycling?
No, empty aerosols should be treated simply as metal cans and added to your can recycling box or can bank.
What happens to my aerosols after I recycle them?
Aerosols are made from tinplated steel, aluminium and occasionally glass. Empty glass aerosols should be recycled with glass jars etc. After your empty metal aerosols are collected by your local authority and sorted they should end up at either a steel or aluminium recycling plant. In the UK Corus Steel Packaging Recycling is the primary recycler of steel and Novelis the primary recycler of aluminium.
Are my aerosols recycled into aerosols?
Metals are recycled as metals not as product types; therefore you do not know where the material in your can came from. It could have been from a car, a tin of beans, a steel girder, a soft drinks can or an aerosol, but remember steel is recycled into steel and aluminium into aluminium.
Why should I recycle my aerosols?
Metal is one of the easiest materials to recycle. Steel and aluminium can be recycled again and again, which means that the carbon footprint of the product they make is greatly reduced due to energy saved by adding recycled materials to the smelting process, meaning less raw materials are used in the manufacture of new steel and aluminium.
Should I pierce or squash my aerosol before recycling?
No, simply take of any easily removable plastic caps etc and add into metal can collection box.
My aerosol is full / part full – can I recycle it?
No, currently we recommend that you disposal of full or part-full aerosols in your rubbish bin.
How do I dispose of my aerosol garden chemicals?
Visit http://www.chem-away.org.uk/ for guidance.
